В штате Вашингтон расследуют причины пожаров комбайнов, связанных с обработкой пшеницы от ржавчины

Wheat industry ponders cause of combine fires Published 10:30 am Thursday, July 16, 2026 “Volatile” and “dangerously combustible” wheat chaff linked to combine fires in Eastern Washington is so far being chalked up to chemical applications to address stripe rust. “The result is A, it worked, but B, it is producing a different form of dust that potentially is attaching itself to these combines on the exhaust system,” said Eric Mauseth, chief for Franklin County Fire District 1, based in Connell, Wash. “That’s what we’re seeing. We don’t know if that’s the God-awful truth, but the farmers that have run combine for years, that’s what they’re calling it.” That tracks with a theory suggested by Washington State University regional extension agronomist Aaron Esser. Otherwise, the cause doesn’t appear to be mechanical, Mauseth said. “We don’t know – some guys were talking about it may be the type of wheat,” he said. “Everybody is scratching their heads on what’s going on here.” Mauseth is personally aware of about five combine fires, the district’s posts on Facebook suggest at least seven have occurred. “Some of them, they don’t call us, they get it out and keep going,” he said. The July 14 fire that caused the loss of about 500 acres of standing wheat, stubble and pasture “was the only one that was as devastating as it was,” Mauseth said. For the other fires, the farmers were on-site and able to take steps, he said. Expert skeptical Stripe rust expert Xianming Chen said he has never heard of stripe rust applications affecting dust in such a way. “Considering the small quantity and about two months before harvest, fungicide application should not contribute to combine fires,” Chen said. For example, Tilt is applied at 4 fluid ounces per acre, and Quilt Xcel at about 14 ounces per acre, Chen said. “Such little chemicals should not make a big difference about flammability of wheat straw,” he said. Chen has not seen studies on any effects of fungicides on changes of straw structure and composition. By the time of harvest, stripe rust spores on leaf and sheath surface should be “shacked off,” Chen said. Fixed rust structures in leaf, sheath and stem tissue may change straw structure. “Again, I have not seen any studies on rust to change flammability of wheat straw,” Chen said. “I think combine fires are mostly related to temperature and dryness.” Proactive prevention Typically, farmers blow their machines free of dust once a day. Most farmers have increased that to two or three times a day, Mauseth said. Most farmers will have a disc and/or water truck in the field, with a worker manning the truck to keep watch, he said. “It has them more on pins and needles,” he said. “These guys are producing some record-setting yields. Obviously, nobody wants anything to burn, so they’re overly cautious.” Farmers are already proactively following their standard operating guidelines for prevention, said Mauseth. “Blowing them off, extra set of eyes, water in the field,” he said. “At times, everyone’s afraid to call 9-11, but I think we’re getting over that fear.” In addition to being fire chief, Mauseth farms in Eltopia and is the town’s local insurance agent. “They’re doing everything our industry asks,” Mauseth said of farmers. Harvest underway Most farmers started harvest the first full week of July. “They’re all going right now,” Mauseth said. It’s week three of harvest for Washington wheat farmers in lower-elevation, dry zones, while others are starting their combines or eyeing coming weeks, according to the Washington Grain Commission. “This is by far the most activity we’ve had to date this time in their cutting season,” Mauseth said of the fires.